MDPI LaTeX Formatting. All 400+ Journals. Official mdpi.cls Template. Submission-Ready.
You’re submitting to an MDPI open-access journal. You need your paper formatted with MDPI’s official LaTeX template — the one that uses their custom mdpi.cls class file, requires the journal name in the documentclass, and has a Definitions/ folder that breaks if you move it.
We handle it. Send us your manuscript in any format — Word, PDF, or your existing LaTeX — and we deliver a clean .tex file using the latest MDPI template, configured for your specific journal, with the correct citation style and all mandatory sections included.
72-hour standard delivery. Compiled and tested in Overleaf. Latest MDPI template guaranteed.
Researchers from these institutions trust The LaTeX Lab
MDPI’s template is deceptively simple-looking. About 10% of MDPI submissions come in LaTeX, and from the ones we see, the most common problem isn’t a compilation error — it’s using an outdated version of the template. MDPI updates their LaTeX template several times a year, and the version on Overleaf’s template gallery is almost always behind the version on MDPI’s website. If the production team receives a paper formatted with last year’s template, they’ll ask you to reformat with the current version — which can mean changing frontmatter commands, updating the Definitions/ folder, and adjusting compilation settings. We always download the latest template directly from MDPI before starting any project.
How the MDPI Template Works — And Where Authors Get Stuck
MDPI doesn’t use elsarticle, acmart, or any other standard class file. They have their own: mdpi.cls, bundled with a Definitions/ folder containing style files, logo assets, and journal-specific configuration. It’s well-documented by MDPI’s standards, but several aspects catch first-time users.
The Journal Name Is Case-Sensitive
The first line of every MDPI LaTeX file includes the journal name as a documentclass option: \documentclass[sensors,article,submit,pdftex,moreauthors]{Definitions/mdpi}. That journal name must match exactly — lowercase, no spaces, no abbreviations. “Sensors” won’t work. “sensors” will.
This is one of the most common errors we see from MDPI submissions. The template compiles without an error when the journal name is wrong — it just silently falls back to a generic format without the journal-specific header and footer. Authors submit it thinking it’s correct, and MDPI’s production team sends it back.
The Grey Text vs. Black Text Structure
If you’ve opened the MDPI template, you’ve seen it: half the file is in grey. That grey text is comments and instructions from MDPI’s production team — it doesn’t appear in the compiled output. The black text is the actual LaTeX commands. Authors regularly delete grey-text instructions that contain mandatory section headers, or accidentally uncomment grey text that shouldn’t be active. We preserve the grey/black structure correctly.
Citation Style Varies by Journal
MDPI journals don’t all use the same citation style. Most use numbered citations (\cite), but a subset of journals in the social sciences and humanities use author–date format (\citep). The list includes Administrative Sciences, Arts, Behavioral Sciences, Econometrics, Economies, Education Sciences, Genealogy, Histories, Humanities, IJFS, Journal of Intelligence, and others. Using the wrong citation style is a common rejection reason. We verify the citation requirement for every MDPI journal before we start.
Frequent Template Updates
MDPI updates their LaTeX template more frequently than most publishers — the current version was updated in March 2026. Using an older template version is the single most common reason MDPI’s production team asks for reformatting. We always download the latest version from MDPI’s website (not Overleaf’s template gallery, which lags behind) before starting any project.
What You Get
Latest MDPI Template Applied
Your paper formatted using the most current version of mdpi.cls, downloaded fresh from MDPI’s website. Journal name correctly configured in the documentclass. Submit/accept toggle set correctly for your submission stage.
Equations in Proper LaTeX Math Mode
Every equation typeset in correct LaTeX syntax. MDPI’s production team does final equation formatting, but they need clean LaTeX input to work from. We use standard AMS packages (amsmath, amssymb) that are fully compatible with mdpi.cls.
Correct Citation Style for Your Journal
Numbered (\cite) or author–date (\citep) applied based on your specific journal’s requirements. Complete .bib file with all references formatted for MDPI’s bibliography system. We verify that every citation resolves correctly.
Figures & Tables to MDPI Spec
Figures in float environments with MDPI-compliant captions. Multi-panel figures formatted with (a), (b), (c) labels as MDPI requires. Tables with captions above (MDPI house style). All images in formats compatible with pdflatex compilation.
MDPI-Specific Sections Formatted
MDPI requires several sections that other publishers don’t: Author Contributions, Funding, Institutional Review Board Statement, Informed Consent Statement, Data Availability Statement, and Conflicts of Interest. We format all of them using MDPI’s required markup, with placeholder text where you haven’t provided the content yet.
Overleaf-Tested Compilation
Compiled and verified in Overleaf with zero errors and zero warnings before delivery. We also verify that the output PDF matches MDPI’s expected layout — two-column format, correct header/footer configuration, and journal name displayed correctly.
Complete Deliverable
Main .tex file, .bib bibliography file, Definitions/ folder with all MDPI style files, all figure files, compiled PDF, and a README with compilation instructions and Overleaf submission notes. 1 revision round included.
Who This Is For
How It Works
Send Us Your Paper & Tell Us the MDPI Journal
Upload your manuscript in any format. Tell us the MDPI journal name. We’ll download the latest template, verify the journal-specific settings (citation style, section requirements, documentclass options), and get started.
Get a Fixed Quote in 2 Hours
We assess your paper length, equation complexity, figure count, and bibliography size. Exact price within 2 hours. No hourly billing.
We Format, Compile & Verify
Latest MDPI template applied. Journal name configured. Citation style set. Equations typeset. Bibliography formatted. MDPI-specific sections added. Figures placed. Compiled and tested in Overleaf.
Download & Submit
You receive the complete file package. You can submit directly to MDPI’s submission system, or if you’re using Overleaf, submit directly from there using MDPI’s Overleaf integration. If any formatting issues arise during production review, we fix them within your included revision round.
What Happens After You Submit to MDPI
MDPI’s production team handles final formatting after your paper is accepted. They’ll adjust minor layout details and add the journal logo and header. But they work from your LaTeX source, and the cleaner your source file, the fewer rounds of production revisions you’ll face. A well-formatted LaTeX submission typically goes through production in 2–3 days. A messy one can take 1–2 weeks of back-and-forth.
MDPI LaTeX Formatting Pricing
Same pricing as all journal paper formatting. Fixed prices, no hourly billing.
- Pagesup to 10
- Equationsup to 20
- Citationsup to 20
- Revisions1 round
- Pagesup to 20
- Equationsup to 50
- Citationsup to 50
- Revisions1 round
- Pagesup to 30
- Equationsup to 100
- Citationsup to 100
- Revisions1 round
Why MDPI Formatting Has Its Own Quirks
★★★★★
“First time submitting to an MDPI journal in LaTeX. Had no idea about the journal name case sensitivity or the mandatory sections. The LaTeX Lab handled everything and it went through production in two days.”
★★★★★
“Had a 18-page manuscript in Word with multi-panel figures and about 45 references. They converted it to the MDPI template, set up the Author Contributions and Data Availability sections I didn't know were mandatory, and had it back in 3 days. Production cleared it in two days after submission.”
★★★★★
“MDPI's production team sent my paper back asking me to reformat with a newer template version. I'd been using the one from Overleaf's gallery for months. They updated everything to the current template, fixed the Definitions/ folder, and I resubmitted the same day.”
Frequently Asked Questions About MDPI LaTeX Formatting
Your Paper Is Ready for Open Access. Let’s Get It Formatted.
Upload your manuscript. Tell us the MDPI journal. Get a fixed quote in 2 hours. Receive submission-ready LaTeX using the latest official template, configured for your journal — guaranteed to compile, ready for production.